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The Galle Fort World Heritage Site The Galle Fort World Heritage Site: A Nature-Culture Approach to the Conservation of Cultural Heritage along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka journal or JOURNAL OF WORLD HERITAGE STUDIES publication title volume SPECIAL ISSUE 2019 page range 29-37 year 2019 URL http://doi.org/10.15068/00157683 JOURNAL OF WORLD HERITAGE STUDIES・SPECIAL ISSUE 2019・DISASTERS AND RESILIENCE ISSN 2189-4728 The Galle Fort World Heritage Site: A Nature-Culture Approach to the Conservation of Cultural Heritage along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka Wijerathne Bohingamuwa Department of History and Archaeology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; 81000; +94 (0)714176869, [email protected] ■ Abstract This paper focuses on the Galle Fort World Heritage site, assessing current practices and issues related to heritage conservation concerning disasters. The purpose is to highlight the importance of understanding nature-culture links for the conservation of coastal heritage sites, exposed to natural conditions, such as sea breeze, sea erosion, and hazards like tsunamis. The Galle Fort is strongly connected to its larger cultural landscape, for which the conservation of the entire ecosystem is required. This paper suggests the development and implementation of integrated and people-centered policies involving all stakeholders in conservation plans, giving due consideration to nature-culture linkages. KEY WORDS: Sri Lanka, Galle fort, Coastal cultural heritage, Nature-culture links, People-centered conservation ■ 1. Introduction 210; Lilley 2013). 1.1 Overview of the heritage site These discussions are highly relevant to the Galle Fort World Heritage site, as well as the heritage in The distinction between nature and culture as the Southern Coastal Belt of Sri Lanka (hereafter separate entities, and rigid categorizations based referred to as the Southern Coastal Belt). The unique on arbitrary divisions, as seen in various charters cultural landscape of this region is partly a result and conventions on heritage (see Askew 2010: 19- of the area having been under the control of the 44; UNESCO 1972), are now being challenged and Portuguese, the Dutch, and the English, from 1505 the traditional definitions and scope of heritage are to 1948. The Old Town of Galle and its fortifications also being reconsidered (see e.g., Harrison 2015: (Galle Fort) have been a UNESCO World Heritage 24-42; 2013). The symbiotic relationship that exists Site since 1988. It was built and maintained by all between nature, culture, and people is increasingly three colonial powers, and is multicultural in its emphasized and reinforced. Similarly, heritage character, termed as ‘heritage of dual parentage,’ sites, cultural or natural, are no longer considered like many other heritage sites along the Southern as isolated entities, but they are identified as being Coastal Belt (Da Silva 1992). interconnected to and interdependent on people, landscapes, and the accompanying ecosystems In this context, the present study focuses on (Larsen and Wjesuriya 2017: 42; Leitão 2017: 195- the Galle Fort World Heritage site to assess 29 JOURNAL OF WORLD HERITAGE STUDIES・SPECIAL ISSUE 2019・DISASTERS AND RESILIENCE ISSN 2189-4728 current practices and issues related to heritage historic city by the same name [Fig. 1]. The Southern conservation in relation to disasters. The Galle Coastal Belt has a rich biodiversity, including lagoons Fort is constantly exposed to the sea breeze, sea with numerous maritime species, mangroves, and erosion, and natural hazards, such as tsunamis, forest covers with specific maritime vegetation in addition to human-induced hazards. However, (Jayatissa 2009; Dahdouh-Guebas 2005) which its architectural and planning characteristics, as are used daily by people. The cultural evolution well as coral and boulder/granite reefs, protect in the region is a result of human interaction the site from disasters, as is shown by the reduced with this environment. The Galle Fort is a great impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The manifestation of this interaction over the centuries. Galle Fort is, therefore, an example to be further The unique coastal environment provided distinct analysed of how cultural heritage relates to the living conditions for its dwellers which brought natural environment in the context of disaster risk together diverse belief systems, along with the management. This study is based on the author’s historical conditions cited above, that led to the long-term observations made at the Galle Fort, as development of this distinct cultural landscape. a member of the Management Board of the Galle Therefore, the author considers that the nature- Fort Heritage Foundation, a survey undertaken culture linkages existing in the Galle Fort, as well after the 2004 Tsunami (cf. Poisson et al. 2009), and as the traditional livelihood of the communities interviews conducted between July and August who have demonstrated resilience to threats 2018 with various stakeholders of the Galle Fort1. and used opportunities provided over the years, need to be safeguarded. This paper highlights the 1.2 Brief description of the landscape potential of the Galle Fort to be a model of nature- culture linkages and resilience to disasters in the The Galle Fort is part and parcel of a larger Southern Coastal Belt, provided that an integrated ecological setting and its values and meanings are management approach is developed. derived from the greater cultural landscape of the Southern Coastal Belt. Consequently, neither nature ■ 2. Significance of Galle Fort nor people can be separated from the fort, which is located in the District of Galle, adjacent to the Located in a distinct natural setting, the Galle Figure 1: Map showing Galle and Matara Fortresses and other main heritage sites in the region. (Source: Author) 1 The author consulted and interviewed a number of stakeholders involved in the cultural heritage conservation in Sri Lanka as well as an expert involved in heritage conservation and training at international level. 30 JOURNAL OF WORLD HERITAGE STUDIES・SPECIAL ISSUE 2019・DISASTERS AND RESILIENCE ISSN 2189-4728 Fort has important values and meanings to its Burghers, and Malays. All of these communities users (Ministry of Culture and Arts Government have lived in harmony and practiced their faiths of Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 2015:13-14). The for centuries, leading to the development of multi- Galle Fort represents the European expansion in culturalism within the region. The Galle Fort has Asia and thus it can be used to read the history of remained a living monument throughout its history. the colonial occupation of Sri Lanka. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique This fort has many attributes that need to be historic and architectural value (Da Silva 1992). It preserved. For instance, fortifications, grid streets, was first built by the Portuguese in 1588 and was street houses with frontal veranda and backyards, modified and used by the Dutch starting in 1649 public and private buildings, and an underground until it was captured by the English in 1796 (Kuruppu sewer system all still display originality in their and Wijesuriya 1992). This fort encloses an area of form and design (Ministry of Culture and Arts 52 hectares and houses a large number of buildings, Government of Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 2015: such as courts, churches, temples, mosques, 14, 16). The sewer system functions as a drainage and warehouses. The fortification contains 14 system even today and some of the tsunami bastions, a gateway, and a clock tower. Some of floods reached the Fort through it in 2004. The these architectural works are great examples of the architectural design of the Galle Fort owes much blend of European and Asian designs and concepts to its local geomorphology. The ramparts of the (Bandaranayake 1992) [Fig. 2]. This fort is also a fort, for example, follow local topography, while the living heritage site, which is inhabited by over 1,686 bastions are located at the most strategic points people2, and for those living there, heritage is a daily in sea and land fronts (Ministry of Culture and Arts experience. Government of Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 2015: 73), protecting it from natural hazards. The social formation in this area is a result of the cross-fertilization of various ethnic and In addition, the Galle Fort is located religious traditions over centuries: the fortress adjacent to the Rumassala hillock which gives an has places of worship for Buddhists, Christians, astounding scenic beauty to the setting of the and Muhammadans, and is home for various Fort. The biodiversity observed in Rumassala, the ethnic groups, such as Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils, coastal vegetation, and the sea around the fort, Figure 2: Galle Fort UNESCO World Heritage Site; Front view (Photo credit: Amila Bandaranayake) 2 Number as at 31.12.2018, Performance report Galle Heritage Foundation 2015. 31 JOURNAL OF WORLD HERITAGE STUDIES・SPECIAL ISSUE 2019・DISASTERS AND RESILIENCE ISSN 2189-4728 as well as the uninterrupted oceanic view from the fort, make this heritage site inseparable from nature [Figs. 3 & 4]. Moreover, Rumassala is also associated with Ramayana myths (Ravi Prakash 1998). The Buona-vista Coral Reef, which was once identified as having the greatest marine biodiversity among all coral reefs in Sri Lanka, was located at the base of the Rumassla hill. This reef, along with the Closenburg Reef, is destroyed now, largely due to human intervention, including port expansion. The Galle Fort Reef, located close to the Galle Fort wall, Figure 5: Stilt fishing/Ritipanna (Photo credit: M.A.U. is the only living coral reef around the fort today Rukshan) (see Karunarathne and Weerakkody 1996). These reefs are part of the Galle Fort heritage and need However, due to population pressures and the to be included in its conservation planning. Coral increasing demand for luxury living, the heritage reefs along the Southern Coastal Belt are a major sites are being modified.
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